The fate of the U.N.-sponsored conference here between Israel and the Arab states is in the balance and may be settled within 24 hours. Either the parley will develop into a peace conference or it will be adjourned in the dace of Arab intransigeance, it was learned here today.
Following the acceptance by both sides of the U.N. working paper presented yesterday by Conciliation Commission chairman Claude de Boiesanger, the French Commissioner made arrangements for separate meetings tomorrow with the Israeli and Arab representatives. The final details were to be worked out at a preliminary discussion today.
However, a few minutes before the preliminary tails were to begin, the Arab spokesman, Fuad Ammoun of Lebanon, called off the meeting, declaring that in the light of the U.N. Political Committee’s favorable action on the Israeli membership application yesterday the Arab delegation had received new instructions to consult further among themselves before meeting with De Boissanger. (Just prior to the vote at Lake Success, Lebanese delegate Charles Malik threatened that if Israel is admitted his government would reconsider its attitude toward the Lausanne talks.)
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